Paraguay cops smash global paedophile gang ‘with links to Madeleine McCann suspect’ as German police notified
COPS in Paraguay have reportedly smashed a global paedophile gang with links to the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case.
Detectives have destroyed the sick network for sharing child sex abuse images and made a number of arrests - and they think the top figure in the gang was in contact with suspect Christian B.
The 44-year-old German, who is a convicted rapist and paedophile, has been identified by police as the prime suspect responsible for the abduction of Madeleine.
A special force chief in the South American country has now revealed how they think their investigation could help solve the Madeleine case.
Commissioner Nimio Cardozo, of the Paraguay police anti-kidnap section, told the : "There are elements, we believe, whereby our security agencies could contribute to clarifying the Madeleine case.
"We are continuing work on trying to help resolve it.
"For us the case is emblematic, as the world’s police and security services have not been able to provide this missing little girl’s parents with the answers they want."
He said his team has handed its findings to prosecutors in Christian B's native Germany.
The Paraguayan cops reportedly arrested the senior gang member, German national Christian Kruse, 58, at his riverbank hideaway in Belen on April 12.
He was charged with child abuse offences and is now in custody awaiting trial.
"This was one of the world’s biggest operations against paedophilia," Cardozo said.
"In Belen we arrested one of the most prolific administrators of paedophile websites.
"He was wanted by several European countries, as well as the United States.
"We made our arrest at night and in Germany several suspects were detained."
He added: "Forensic analysis of computers in Paraguay and Germany led to the identification of more than 5,000 connected IP addresses that were exchanging paedophile videos and photos.
"We haven’t ruled out the possibility that among all that big data there could be important information for the Madeleine case."
On Monday, cops working on the Madeleine case said new key evidence was revealed to be the suspect's phone records, which may show his movements in Portugal.
"For a long time German officers have said many key pieces of the jigsaw were missing about Christian B's movements in the Algarve," a source said.
"This new information may help provide one of those pieces."
German police believe Madeleine was killed in Portugal and not taken to Germany by Christian B, it emerged on Monday.
There were fears he had allegedly moved the toddler to his home country after taking her from Praia da Luz.
Christian B’s lawyer Friedrich Fulscher had said his client “denies any involvement” in the McCann case.
Detectives from Germany, Portugal and the UK probing Christian B are due to meet within weeks to discuss the case.
German police searched Christian B's former home in Hanover last July, but Mr Wolters said he wasn't living at the home at the time Madeleine disappeared.
Christian B was identified as the prime suspect in Madeleine's disappearance last June.
He is serving a seven-year sentence in prison for raping a 72-year-old American woman in the Algarve in 2005.
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It comes as Madeleine's parents Gerry, 52, and Kate, 53, said they would "never give up" hope of finding their daughter.
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The couple paid tribute to their daughter on what would have been her 18th birthday.
They wrote: "Happy 18th birthday Madeleine. We love you and we’re waiting for you and we’re never going to give up."